Manchester City loanee reflects on emergency £30M Premier League switch | OneFootball

Manchester City and Brazil defender Vitor Reis has reflected on his January move from Palmeiras to the Etihad Stadium and subsequent loan spell at Girona.

In the midst of their most challenging season in nearly a decade, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City brought in a whole host of talent in January in a rather needs-must attempt to turn the tide of the difficult 2024-25 season.

Reis, 19, was one of four emergency signings made by Manchester City as part of a £181.5 million January outlay to cope with a grave personnel crisis in defence – marred by injuries across the board and the shock loan exit of Kyle Walker to AC Milan.

Despite receiving less media coverage than some of City’s other recruits in the winter window, Reis is a talented youngster with room to grow and will certainly be one for the future as he progress his development on loan in the Spanish top-flight.

The young Brazilian remains one of the most promising teenage central defenders at Manchester City’s disposal, having turned the heads of executives at the Etihad Stadium with his stellar defensive displays for Palmeiras in the first half of the 2024-25 season.

Prior to Girona’s 2-1 La Liga loss to Barcelona last weekend, Reis reflected on the career leap he taken in 2025 from moving to Brazil to Manchester to Spain in the space of nine months. “It all happened very quickly,” the youngster said in an interview with Sport, as translated and relayed by Sport Witness.

“In six months, I played 22 games for Palmeiras and at the end of the season, (Manchester) City appeared. It was a huge joy. My family helped me a lot, and I was able to cope well (with the move from Brazil to England).”

Within City’s star-studded ranks, the Brazilian was only granted 226 first-team minutes in what remained of the 2024-25 campaign but admits to have learnt a lot under the careful tutelage of Pep Guardiola.

“I learnt a lot from him (Guardiola) in a short time. These are things that seem basic, but they make a difference on the pitch. I can only thank him,” Reis added.

City elected to send Reis out on loan to sister club Girona for first-team experience, something absolutely necessary for the progression and development of young raw talents who can be integrated into Guardiola’s first-team ranks upon maturity.

“I had a conversation with the manager (Girona boss Michel). I already knew Girona a little thanks to Savinho, who told me very good things about it,” Reis said. “When I spoke with Míchel, I already had an idea in mind, which was confirmed after speaking with him.

“Savinho had a very good time at Girona and only told me good things. I was happy to be able to come, and I think he was a key factor in my coming.”

Reis is clearly an exciting prospect – having picked up nearly triple the minutes at Girona so far (618) as he had at Manchester City (226) – with Guardiola and co expected to be keeping a close eye on the centre-half’s development in Spain as the season progresses.